Ancient Soparaka

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The present Nalasopara which in the ancient times was the core part of Soparaka is rich in the antiquarian remains in the form of stupa, votive stupa, inscription, relic casket, pottery, sculptures and other antiquities and remains of temples whereas its surroundings regions, also the integral part of Soparaka, are found with numbers of caves. These caves are tracered with chaityagrihas, cells, sculptures, water cistern and inscriptions assigning the date from 2nd. century BC to late historical period which indicates this region flourished from its art and architecture from earliest time to late historical period.

Madan Singh Chouhan (b. 1971) joined Archaeological Survey of India, Mini Circle Shimla in 1997 as Deputy Superintending Archaeologist and remained engaged in the monumental work of Himachal Pradesh. Thereafter, he took in-service training of excavation, exploration and conservation for nine months from the Institute of Archaeology New Delhi. During his nineteen years service worked as Dy. Superintending Archaeologist, Superintending Archaeologist and Director from 1997 to 2016 he was engaged in various exploration, excavation and conservation works in Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Bihar where numbers of monuments, in the forms of temples, mosque, churches, forts, hill forts, British structures, cemeteries and other monuments of various nature from prehistoric period to modern time, were studied, maintained and conserved.

Maharashtra is the third largest state and the second most populous State in India. The state varied in geographical and environmental settings and gifted with rich cultural heritage, of which antiquity dates back to the millions of years. Consisting of 36 districts in the state, has 281 protected monuments and sites of national importance under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India, out of them 93 monuments are in 11 districts of east Maharashtra (Vidarbha), 76 monuments in 9 districts of central Maharashtra and 112 monuments in 12 districts of western Maharashtra under the administrative control of ASI circles namely Nagpur, Aurangabad and Mumbai circle respectively.

Spread in 12 districts of Western Maharashtra (Mumbai, Mumbai Sub-Urban, Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg Pune, Satara, Sangli, Solapur, Kolhapur) these monuments are of different categories like rock-cut cave, temples, terrestrial and Island forts, wadas and palaces ranging from early historic period to the colonial India.

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